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Israel and Hamas: Controlling the message

Posted: Monday, January 05, 2009 4:20 PM
Filed Under:

By Martin Fletcher, NBC News Correspondent 

TEL AVIV – Have you noticed that in the TV coverage of the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas, all we’ve seen are missiles, explosions and their sad aftermath?

We haven’t seen one image of an Israeli firing a gun. Same thing goes for Hamas.

Although Hamas fighters are hunkered down in homes, mosques, schools and even in hospitals, according to Palestinians who can see them, we haven’t seen one picture of a Hamas fighter with a gun in a military situation, let alone firing it.

It’s an extreme case of "Control the Message."

Israel Gaza Conflict Continues Into Eighth Day
SLIDESHOW: Gaza chaos
 
Both sides are doing it. Israel has closed the border area to any journalists (or civilians it feels don’t have any business there). And Israeli citizens, whose sons and daughters are fighting the war – and who know the government’s policy on images from war zones – are understandably reluctant to release cell-phone video of the scenes.

Hamas achieves the same result in a different way: they simply threaten to kill anybody who films them. That’s a persuasive argument, especially as most, if not all, of the reporters in Gaza at the moment are local Palestinians, who have nowhere to escape to.

And in Rafah, on the Egyptian section of the Gaza border, where local police violently suppressed demonstrations against Israel’s invasion – and also protests critical of Egypt’s alleged collusion with Israel – all video was confiscated from reporters.

In the West Bank, Palestinian police dealt with pro-Hamas demonstrators in the same way, but more brutally. Reporters were beaten and threatened before having their tapes taken from them.

Each side wants to be the ‘victim’
What is the message that is being so brutally controlled? It’s the same as always: each side wants to be portrayed as the victim, one that doesn’t have a choice but to defend itself.

All we see broadcast in Israel are homes battered by Palestinian rockets, with their intrinsic message that the Israelis have no choice but to retaliate against Hamas in order to return "peace and serenity" to its people.

And from Gaza, all we are allowed to see are crushed homes, bleeding adults and dead children. Their message: look what they’re doing to us, the world must stop them.

The irony, of course, is that the message from both sides is right – that the violence should stop.  However, each side protests that only its violence is justified.

Israel and its supporters argue that there is no equivalence – they have been rocketed for years before their patience ran out. For Hamas, their charter states their goal – to destroy Israel.

For onlookers, images of destruction, each side’s key propaganda weapon, are confusing. Can anybody be right if all this is so wrong?

And that’s the job of a reporter – to report the story of both sides as fairly as he can, while each side limits his or her access to the truth.

Related link: Reporters locked out of Gaza war zone

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Comments

Don't expect a promotion any time soon, Martin.

Matt, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 4:51 PM)

People who are the victims of terrorism only can see the actual picture, showing childrens dead bodies and destruction doesnt make gaza a victim, we know what is a victim of terrorism feels like. dont trust hamas, their motto is to wipe out Israel with the help of Iran, why arab world is quite? why they are not sending aid to gaza? why they are not supporting hamas? they dont care if their own killed, but their aim is to wipe out Israel.

Ann, St paul, MN (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 4:52 PM)

Does it not seem strange that Hamas is targeting only
civilians with their rockets and yet no one seems to care?

James Pruett, Early Texas (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:11 PM)

Martin-- Please keep on blogging. It's always so interesting when you do analysis and/or share inside info with us.

After 60 years of this (if not 5000), I'm convinced there will never be a solution. Each time it seems a solution is being reached, violence breaks out, deliberately, to sabotage peace. And both sides are guilty of it.

Celine, JC-NJ (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:15 PM)

What a bunch of puffery. This pretense that both sides are equally guilty. Israel is the 800-pound gorilla here. Hamas won't recognize Israel's right to exist - as long as Israel refuses to recognize the Palestinians right of return. Since Hamas was elected (we wanted elections, remember?), Israel has systematically starved Gaza of food, medicine, fuel, water and electricity. In 7 or 8 years, Qassam rockets have killed 15 or 17 people. Israels is currently killing hundreds of Palestinians, up to a third or more, women and children. This is not a war, not a battle, but a one-sided slaughter. Try a little honest reporting for a change.

Mosad, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:22 PM)

I completely agree. It seems that people wish to see the world in "false dichotomies" meaning white and black or good and bad. The problem is that things are just never that simple.I believe that both Hamas and Israel leadership share some degree of guilt for the immense suffering that is being felt by their civilians.

Austin James (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:23 PM)

Your article is utter nonsense.  Stop trying to decriminalize the barbaric actions of the IDF. Free lance journalists and reporters (including European nationals) are reporting from Gaza.  They have not killed them.  The IDF might kill them as they have before preventing the images and voice of truth coming out. See what the IDF has done to Rachel Corrie, James Miller, and Tom Handel.  There is enough pain inflicted on the Palestinian people - the least you can do is stop trying to blame them.  Foreign aid workers are currently in Gaza, living in fear from the aggression of the IDF.  If you want sympathy from the world start by telling the truth and separating yourself from the "terrorists" - this case the operations of the IDF.

Just recently, the IDF prevented the world from seeing the crimes they commited in Jenin.  You may fool an uneducated audience but only for sometime.

Nicolas (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:28 PM)

Here's a litmus test.  For one day, twenty-four
hours, get Hamas to stop launching missiles into
Israel.  If Israel continues the war, then they
are the aggressors and should be pressured into
a cease-fire.  However, I predict the fighting
would immediately stop, because Hamas is indeed
the aggressor and the missiles are the cause of
this war, no matter how much is the "collateral
damage".  Hamas must be crushed or this will
never end.  So stop with the "equivalency
foolishness, and get on with crushing Hamas, the
sooner the better.

Above Average Citizen, Asheville, NC (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:29 PM)

Militants live to kill those that oppose them. They don't care what gender they are, nor what age they are. How can anyone not want them eradicated from the face of the Earth?

Nick Newlin Jr, Riverview, Florida (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:32 PM)

For Hamas, their charter states their goal – to destroy Israel.

You summed it all up right there. How can a group like that be allowed to rule over anything.
The press should be let in though, but in small groups to prevent out of control "story trumping" to try to get exclusive coverage. Teh last thing needed here is to sensationalize either side. Israel knows that once the press is allowed in, Hammas will make it the number one priority to get as many bodies in front of them as possible and force their side of the story above all. If they cannot get the pres on their side, they will make capturing and murdering journalists the next priority.

Allen Fish, Richmond Va (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:33 PM)

why shoud the press be allowed to show anything at all when it ultimately endangers lives by showing soldier positions and usually distorts the truth anyhow.

R K, Mem, TN (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:34 PM)

How can you live in peace with a neighbor who's charter is to destroy you?
If any one of our neighbors kept lobbing grenades into your back yard - how long would it take for retaliation to begin and how far would you go to protect your family from all future possibility of attack?

Larry Davidson Humble, TX (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:43 PM)

Your ‘report” is still another example of propaganda.  Just look at your closing paragraph:

“Israel and its supporters argue that there is no equivalence – they have been rocketed for years before their patience ran out. For Hamas, their charter states their goal – to destroy Israel.”

That, I am afraid, is not reporting; that is opinion, and one-sided at best.  No mention of the fact that: Hamas won free elections; since the elections, Israel has systematically tried to reverse the elections through economic and infrastructure throttling; that humanitarian efforts to get through the blockade have been consistently stopped by Israel, by force if necessary; the crude rockets fired randomly are the only form of defence or offence available to Hamas aside form field weapons; not one mention of the destructive firepower available to Israel – largely due to the largesse of the US Treasury and billions from US Jews – and the massive civilian deaths resulting from the self-describe “surgical” strikes.

What you SHOULD be commenting on is Israel’s attitude that the lives of 1000 Palestinians are not worth that of even one Israeli …but then again, you state that each time you become a reporting appologist for the Israeli war and killing machine.

Barnabas, CA (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:56 PM)

If I lived in Israel and was getting hit with rockets every day I would hope someone would put a stop to it. Why aren't we blaming the hamas for the problem and not Irael?

ken quigley (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 5:56 PM)

The Isreali Defense Forces should take a lessoned learned from the US Army by embedding reporters with their units. If your soldiers are fighting ethically then there should be nothing wrong with this. Turn the actions of your enemy against him by showing the weapons caches and underground tunnels (if they exist) to the world. It may not all be good, but the credibility gained would outweigh the negative - if they have nothing to hide. Hamas could do this as well - if they have nothing to hide. As it is, one is forced to assume that both sides are commiting attrocities.

Eric Gilge, Ft Leavenworth, Kansas (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 6:00 PM)

Martin, the pro-Hamas propoganda that you have been spreading for the last five years is the only message I see on NBC.  Your coverage stinks.

Ken, Long Island, New York (Sent Monday, January 05, 2009 6:00 PM)

Martin
I agree with your assesment to a degree. But the fundemental problem is that we havenot addressed the right of return of the palestinians refugees, as part of the comprehensive peace.

Reality is that Israel isnot going anywhere, and nor are the palestinians people.
Enough of the back and forth Killing.    

John A, Palm Desert , Ca. (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:33 AM)

If all the Muslims in this world is up in arms against the retaliation of Israel against Hamas launching rocket into Southern Israel, why not let them setup an independent Palestine within their border by offering them a piece of their land? Do I hear any volunteers from the Muslim brothers out there?

The truth of the matter is that no one wants the Palestine mess ( Hamas, Extremist, Economic, Social etc ).  The rest of the Muslim world is protesting about it out off political and religious reasons.

I think oil rich nations like Egypt and Saudi can help out, just carve out a piece of terrority like a good Muslim brother and hand it over to the Palestinians, let them setup their independent Palestine and let them rule themselves.

Ealanor, Lisbon, Spain (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:36 AM)

It all can be traced back to false promises of Hamas to palestinian people.  Its a wishful thinking for palestinians to uproot Israel who by the way has also a claim to the land they are on right now. This issue can never be resolved if both parties do not accept the reality on the ground. I hope they come into their senses.

Jomar (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:40 AM)

Occupying palestinian land, controlling food, medicines and transportation and basic necessaties of life is going to frustate anybody, the frustated party will retaliate with any and every thing even kiliing themselves. So what has happened is that Israel is perpetually and knowingly frustating palestinians and forcing them to do things that they can validly labell as " Terrorism". See the trick!! If the palestinians keep quiet and live under Israeli control, Israel has achieved the objective. If they choose to oppose it like they are doing now, than also they are the sufferers becoz they are "Terrorists", So either ways u palestinians will loose. But normal people think who has made them in to that??

bazooka (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:46 AM)

Both Hamas and Israel need to agree that they were both victims as well as agressors in a given point of time. Israel as well as Hamas or any other nation or country does have the right to defend themselves. But when does self-defense become a twisted goal for absolute vengence? How far can any human being go before the rest of humanity considers them to be murders themselves? It is extremely easy to go from defending oneself and other people to exterminating massive people's. Israel and Hamas need to put an absolute end to their destructive behavior. The world needs to recognize that there are men, women, and children in both Israel and Gaza, who want to achieve peace between their nations. The fighting on both sides needs to stop now.    

J.B (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:48 AM)

Have people noticed that George Bush is almost always wrong in his judgement.  He now blames Hamas for all problems.  How come Isreal is never wrong.  How come the rest of the world, except Isreal, thinks what George Bush say is worng.  

I don't see why Isreal should be so blessed as to have the U S prestige damaged by George Bush's polices.  Hamas may be firing rockets into Isreal, but no body know the background into the reason why.  Isreal is not fair in their dealings with the way they treat the Palestinians.  The Jews in the U S are dictating U S policies and they also are not fair in the way they look at other people.

Duncan, Kailua Hawaii (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:49 AM)

Hamas are Terrorists and nothing but trouble. They should be removed form power. Since Hamas have run from Palistine there has been no headlines of trouble in that state. Terrorism followed Hamas to Gaza and rule Gaza's civilian people by fear from behind a mask and a gun, just so that they can develop a solid base from which to spread their venom. No different to Al-Qaeda in Pakistan after being pushed out of Iraq. Nothing will have a chance to being solved until the Terrorist are dealt with. Civil people with common sense and real desire for lasting peace need to rise above the rule of Hamas terrorism build a new style of peaceful life and rules, something that several generations have not witnessed in that region. But that is a tall ask, is it not?

Kevin Mason (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:54 AM)

I dont think you people know what your talking about!
Our world has been existing for 5700 years, at that time it was called Old Babilon, There were no jews, no arabs no christians, everyone was equal.
Then everyone has decided that they want to become a jew, arab or christian, kicking each other of the land through the rest of the years.
Before we are jews arabs and christian, We Are People!
and untill we realise that we all should treat eachother with same Respect and have Love for eachtoher, we will have wars!
Everyone in this world should ask them selves a quiestion, what will happen if everyone in this world would stop splitting the land? Share everything they have, will there be a need to fight?
Just look at what is going on in the world today, everyone is killing eachother, and its not only in Israel and Paestine!

You all should Read www.Kabbalah.com   It will teach everyone how to stop al this maddness in the world.

Arsen Yedigarov Edison NJ (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:57 AM)

something most people don't know is that the moment the cease-fire agreement expired, Hamas started lobbing missiles at Israel en masse. what's Israel supposed to do? Hamas, if you're going to poke the tiger, be prepared to fight it.

Theodore, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:00 AM)

You have to give Hamas credit for running an excellent PR war. They place their missiles next to homes & schools, praying they will be hit and cause massive civilian casualties. They know the U.S. and European media will devour the propaganda pictures. It's pure genius. I don't even think Joseph Goebbels could have come up with this stuff.

Dave, SLC, UT (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:02 AM)

How can you equalize one side who's *charter* is to anihilate the existance of the other with one who's had enough and wish to protect it's innocent civilians? What would the U.S. do if rockets are fired on Seattle from Vancouver once, let alone for 8 years - on kindergardens, on shopping centers? This is hypocracy at it's best. Put yourself in the Israeli shoes & see where is your threshold of patience. Shame on you. Let's see - who's up here is willing to negotiate their own right to exist? Do you have the right to exist? Is it on the table? This is a war between life and death, between those who value life, not only Jewish life, any life, and those who value death, death of their enemies, children, & themselves. Don't confuse the two. This is a battle between light and darkness. Kill death & get rid of the Hamas evil for good. Do your job and seek the truth. Balanced? Is your existance on the table a balanced position. Think!

Al Black, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:04 AM)

ISRAEL- THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER,WHILE EVERYONE WATCHES!  ISRAELI ZIONISTS YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD ONE DAY.BUTCHERS

rackia,chicago,Ill. (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:07 AM)

To feel sorry for an open terrorist group; a group that in full view twisted dem. to it's favor. Is nothing short of terrorism itself. They brought this on themselves when they wouldn't be human enough to acknowledge that all have a right to live.

I mean, would you persecute America after 9/11.? We launched a war to defend ourselves from future attacks. This is the same thing on behalf of Israel. Even more important for them... They're surrounded by all those men who won't aspire to be better. Kill them all, I say. Less to worry about for our children and their futures.

Tom Levittown, pa. (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:26 AM)

Well, from what we can tell, Hamas starts firing missiles at Israel, who immediately uses that as an excuse to bomb and invade them. Which obviously started way back when Jewish, Christian, and Muslim people could never get along (and still can't).

a random person (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:30 AM)

This "Stand with Israel   -- right or wrong"
is equivalent to Orwell's
"My mother ---  drunk or sober"

Tragically, this collective punishment mind set of Israeli leadership will only guarantee that historians of the year 2100 will speak of Israel in the past tense.

A better approach would to be to take the ethical high ground and treat the Palestinians a equals -- not a pests to be driven out.

Once that happens, groups like Hamas won't have a base.

Rex Trellis, Pismo Beach, California (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:34 AM)

Approved? monitored> why you don't say censored. like in the dictatorial countries that don't have democracy. this is the only space the public have. shame on you mr. censor.

tallnyc9 (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:34 AM)

Mosad, if a foreign group of people was shooting deadly rockets at your wife, children, and yourself REPEATEDLY for years, would you not expect your country stop this? at any cost of foreign life. The world has forgotten a little thing about war, its about protecting yourself, not saving the other sides civillians.

Chris, Kirkland, WA (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:36 AM)

There is enough land for both parties, both can live side by side in peace, and it's very clear and obvious to the world who the greedy ones really are.

R M (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:37 AM)

Its not that hard. I cant believe how stupid people are in this issue.

Hamas wants to destroy Israel.
Hamas launches rockets since 2001.
Israel endures for a little but cant take it no more.
Israel does us, and the rest of the world a favor by going to exterminate a terrorist organization, by PROTECTING itself.
PERIOD.

secondly, its a terrorist organization. You dont respond to a few rockets from a terroirst organization with a few rockets. You send in your whole entire army.

What makes me sick to my stomach, is (and I live in SF by the way) when I see Americans protesting Israli aggression against a Terrorist organization. San Franciso can burn in hell for all I care. But it makes me ashamed to call myself an American when I see Americans of ALL races protesting Israli aggression against a terrorist organization that frankly, I think San Francisco would be happy to be rid of.

I say, let Hamas bomb San Francisco, and then let Israel come to SF to fix it. I think at that point Americans would appreciate Israel a little more.

Where were you liberals when Hamas was firing rockets into Israel? Where were you liberals when Israli's died from Hamas agression, no matter how small it was compared to Israel's current war.

That borders on treason if you actually protest against Israeli aggression against a Terrorist Organization. Death of the innocent is inevitable in any war. Including a war to eliminate a terrorist regime from a neighboring strip of land whose government charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

I am not Israeli, but I am a staunch Supporter of Israel.

Manu, San Francisco, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:37 AM)

It's real simple.
Both factions know the lay of the land very, very well.
One photo, 1 video can turn the tide of the conflict either way, because it will give a sensitive position and information.
If you were in charge of the lives of your military whether Hamas or Israel, you would do whatever it took to avoid this from happening.
Sorry Free-Press, but unless you go paper/pen only, I don't see any good reason to allow you in.

Kenmei, Upstate, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:39 AM)

Go Israel, protect your citizens and don't stop until you win.  You don't have to listen or answer to anyone when defending your Country.  Terrorism must be defeated around the world.

Brian Indianapolis IN (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:41 AM)

Our bible says “An eye for an eyes”, not 100 eyes for an eye. Just because you have the power to do this does not mean that you should. Nor does having the power or any amount of PR make it just.

Israel is killing women and children. This is a cowardly and terrorist action. Since the United States provides material support to Israel, we are Terrorists according to our own standard.

Bill - Detroit Michigan (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:42 AM)

Nicolas and Mosad- you could not be more wrong. Of course, it is obvious to any educated person that you are both very biased against Israel, which is why I understand your point of view. However, you cannot place the blame solely on Israel. If the US was bombed on average 20 times a day for almost 2 years, we would have already invaded the country that was bombing us. The facts are simple- on average 20 Quassam rockets fall on Sderot each day, and this has been occuring since summer of 2006. I don't know about you, but if I was being bombed 20 times a day I would want to fight back to get some peace and quiet. Why should Israel cooperate with Hamas when Hamas has made it quite clear that it only wants Israel's destruction. I don't believe that Hamas's opinion would change with our without Palestinian Right of Return. Seriously. Think out your arguments a little more before you spew your bias at us.

A Logical Thinker, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:45 AM)

I love how the world acts like Isreal is the bad guy. If the world wants to help the people of the Gaza strip. They need to let them know not to stand in front of Hamas militants while they are firing at Isreal over their shoulder. Isreal has every right to defend themselves, no matter what the media tries to portrait. Isreal doen't have the civilian casualties because the civilians from Isreal are smart enough to get out of the way.

K (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:45 AM)

Any human on the face of this earth that can justify the killing of another for any reason is sick. But to cut off aid, food, water and when that does not work resort to mass killing should not be allowed to reside on this earth.  They will be delt with by a hugher power some day.  In the mean time the countries on this planet should band together to stop this madness. (who ever they may be)  

Virginia J, Lapine, Or (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:03 AM)

Hamas needs to focus its "Zeal" on helping its people and not on the destruction of Israel.  Iran has been backing Hamas for years and the Palestinian people are the victims of that relationship.  Israel needs to reach out to the Palestinians and try to help them establish a legitimate government.

Eric Lehman, Lodi, Ca (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:04 AM)

It is very interesting to see journalists laboring to make sure that both sides appear to be fighting a just war ..... and that innocent civilians are caught in the middle. The latter part may be true but how in the world can one get away with the statement - "Can anybody be right if all this is so wrong?" ALL this is so wrong ? If Israel acts to make sure that its population is safe how is that an act of aggression ?

It is silly and pathetic to see Islamists protesting in Brooklyn. How many Jewish people or Israelis did we see protesting when Hamas broke the ceasefire last month and started firing rockets into Israel ? But when Israel attacked Gaza, muslims all over (including some nutjobs in Brooklyn) the world came out in droves and protested (sometimes violently). The message is clear and people who want to see it will see it clearly and it is this - A significant number of Muslims owe their allegience to their brotherhood first and foremost and then to the country that they are citizens of.

Paddy Clarke (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:05 AM)

After all, just to remind you that all the lands from the Mediterranean to Jordan River is a Palestinian Land; it has been occupied by Israel in 1948 and 1967.
So, Basically Israel is an Intruder, its occupied Palestine, It has no right to live in it.
Ask the British government which was delegated upon Palestine at that time.
Not only Gaza and the West Bank for the Palestinian, But Palestine as whole.
Think about it, if someone kick you out of your home and settled in it, what would your respond be?
Would you ever going forget your home?
The Answer is yours  !!.  

Asaad Al-Asaad , Amman / Jordan (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:05 AM)

To Above Average Citizen, Asheville, NC and the litmus test... if there was a cease-fire for 24 hours and your prediction that Hamas would stop the fighting and its missiles would stop... wrong! For if indeed Hamas was the aggressor [which its not, for its merely playing defense in this violence game against the Zionist offense team], then we would not have still witnessed people dying prior to this 11-day strike. But people continued to die even when Hamas was not firing missels, and all those dead people died at the hands of Israeli soliders.

Its sad that we have come to refer to people as mere 'collatoral damage' and that one should achieve their goals no matter the amount of damage that is incurred. I wonder if we would still be thiking that if our own mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, children, and friends were the collatoral damage!

Fatmeh R. Drbn,MI (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:08 AM)

What did Rachel Corrie do to be crushed under an Israeli bulldozer? May be Israel thought she was recruited by Hamas.
Stop fooling your self and just think about your children, would you like this to happen to them or even your cats and dogs????

california (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:10 AM)

you people are very easily influenced. Do you know the history of Israel? At all? Well here it is in a nutshell... Israel was at one time a country composed ONLY of Palestinian/Muslim people. However, during the cold war many Jews fled to Israel in search of a "safe haven". Just like the native American people opened their land & hearts to European settlers, the Palestinian/Muslim people opened their borders and hearts to the Jewish. Once Jewish people gained numbers in Israel, they began to claim land as their own (very similar to what happened to native Americans) and force was used to remove the Muslims (just like native Americans people!) There were wars and broken treaties! The Jewish Israeli people began trying to section off land and force the Muslim people into small territories (Gaza)and obviously succeeded!. Once the Jewish Israeli had the Palestinian/Muslims cornered into a small section, they began strangling the muslims by blocking aid! We should be protesting modern day Israel! They have forced an entire race of people into one small corner of a country and their goal is to eventually obtain that! How would you feel if you invited a guest into your home and he/she used force to somehow steal it from right underneath you? Would you not "have a fit"?? Would you not fight for your home? Of Course you would! Think people think! News reports state that the "rockets" that hammas has sent has killed very low numbers (4 people from the last report I read)! Yet Jewish Israel is completely annihilating the Palestinians! Just look at the casualties! This conflict is deeper than Hammas!. You would fight for you home too!.. To add insult to injury, how would you feel if while fighting for your stolen home you were then classified as a terrorist!  

not palestinian nor a muslim but also not fooled by the media! San Jose, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:14 AM)

Be human and think like one too!!!
Remember RACHEL CORRIE
Utterly despicable actions by Israeli army who purposely kill innocent people in the name of collateral damage.
Shame on them and on those who lack the moral courage to speak the truth.
May we have more Rachel Corries to remind us what one young unarmed girl can do.
Stir humanity...

san jose (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:22 AM)

The moral equivalency of Hamas - a terrorist organization with the express aim of destroying Israel and killing as many of its citizens as possible - with Israel, a nation that has tried its utmost for 60 years to exist in peace with its neighbors, is rediculous.  If Hamas would stop bombing innocent civilians and hiding amongst arab civilians in warfare, there would be no civilian deaths and no humanitarian "crisis".

John K, Hackensack, NJ (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:23 AM)

yes it is sad to see men,women and children injured and dieying...but does anyone remember Sadat, who offered peace to palestinian and got killed for it. Palestinian leaders does not want peace, this will mean no more blackmailing, no more swiss bank accounts. Sorry for palestinian victims of their own leadership

Magdi Kamel-Cairo-Egypt (Sent Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:24 AM)



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